Lena Porchun

Lena Porchun, 102, of Velva, formerly of Butte, joined her heavenly family on Feb. 14, 2013, passing at the Souris Valley Care Center in Velva where she lived.

Lena Perekrestenko was born June 28, 1910, on the family homestead southwest of Butte, where she was raised by her Ukranianian immigrant parents, Luke and Daisy (Plesuk) Perekrestenko. She attended rural school in the area.

Lena was wed to Steve Postivit Jan. 10, 1930, and from this union they had one daughter, Joy. Steve died in 1946.

She later married Archie Porchun and he died in 1988. Lena worked for 13 years at the Butte Post Office. She was also a well known seamstress in the area, making clothes for many. She was a member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Butte. She loved to garden and maintained her orchard, vegetable and flower gardens until she moved into the Souris Valley Care Center in 2009. She spent her 100th year living near Benedict on Brad and Annette Edinger, her great niece’s farm. She then returned to living at the care center for her remaining years.

She led an extraordinary life as a senior citizen with her outgoing and carefree attitude. She traveled in the United States and to the Ukraine and enjoyed community events throughout the region with her friends. In her last years and up until the time of her death she continued on those outings with her special caregiver friend, LaVonne Gullickson. She took to motorcycling in her late 90s and was given a ride annually, including on her 102nd birthday.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Steve and Archie; daughter, Joy; son-in-law, Gordon; and all her siblings, Sam (Frieda), George, Mike (Elsie), Olga (husbands Harry Sharley and Mac Boyko), her young siblings, Annie and George Perekrestenko; her aunt, Matilda Moseanko; and uncle, Daniel Perekrestenko; and many cousins.